Founded as a perfect circle, Baghdad was once the world's greatest cultural center.

History · Published 3 October 2026 · Updated 19 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Commissioned in 762 by Caliph al-Mansur, Baghdad was designed as a revolutionary round city. For five centuries, it served as the heart of the Abbasid Caliphate, anchoring Islamic civilization before enduring centuries of conquest, decline, and modern transformation into the sprawling, resilient metropolis that defines Iraq today.

Baghdad was established on 30 July 762, chosen by Caliph al-Mansur for its strategic location between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Designed as a perfect circle, the city featured four equidistant gates connected by straight roads to a central royal preserve. Its construction was a massive undertaking, involving thousands of laborers and engineers, and it was protected by an 80-foot-high wall and a deep moat. By the 9th and 10th centuries, it had become the largest city in the world, serving as a sophisticated hub of administration, trade, and scholarship during the Islamic Golden Age.

The city's early governance was remarkably advanced for its time. It employed a dedicated staff of civil servants, including health and market inspectors known as Muhtasib, who ensured fair trade and quality control. The city was divided into distinct districts to separate the royal center from the bustling commercial markets of al-Karkh. This prosperity was fueled by an innovative water network that tapped into the Tigris and Euphrates, providing households with a reliable supply of water in an otherwise arid climate.

The city's fortunes shifted dramatically in 1258 when it was conquered by the Mongol leader Hülegü, marking the end of its status as the preeminent center of the caliphate. After centuries of provincial status under the Ottoman Empire, Baghdad regained its political significance in 1920 as the capital of Iraq. Despite the physical destruction caused by the Persian Gulf War and the Iraq War, the city has retained a unique allure, remaining a center of cultural life, literature, and the enduring memory of its historical grandeur.

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